Container and closure therefor



Oct. 26, 1954 N. s. WATERMAN CONTAINER AND CLOSURE THEREFOR Filed July 26, 1952 xx Kr? A I INVENTOR.

.nE/L 6.WATEEM14N s fiw fluflmw .irrazwr Patented Oct. 26, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates generally to a receptacle having a flexible closure cooperating therewith, but more specifically to a container having a flexible sliding cover operable by a single hand of the consumer for opening and closing to permit ejection of articles such as pharmeceutical and confectionary items therefrom.

A main object of the invention resides in the provision of a container of the above type having a flexible and slidable cover cooperating with the open mouth of the container and of such construction as to permit opening and closing of the container by one hand of the consumer.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a container and a flexible slidecover which is compact, convenient to use, sanitary and capable of reuse.

These objects and other incidental ends and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear in the progress of the disclosure and as pointed out in the appended claims.

Accompanying this specification is a drawing showing preferred forms of the invention wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective showing an open-mouthed container and cover therefor in closed position.

Figure 2 is a view in perspective showing the container with the flexible cover partially retracted by the use of one hand and further showing the ejection of an article.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of Figure 2 across the broken line 33 thereof.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary exploded view partly in elevation and in section showing a pair of continuous and opposite guide grooves on the container faces and a flexible type of slide fastener having inwardly directed teeth along the sides for slidable engagement with said grooves.

Figure 5 is a partial sectional view of Figure 1 across the plane 5-5 thereof.

Figure 6 shows a partial sectional view of a modified form of container grooves and of slide fastener teeth engagable therewith.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary and enlarged perspective view of the slide fastener member shown in Figure 6 and in outstretched position,

Figure 8 is a fragmentary and enlarged perspective view partly in section showing a second modified form of container grooves and slide fastener teeth.

In accordance with the invention and the preferred forms shown, the container is capable of assuming any form or shape and as shown is made of any type of sterile or inert plastic ma- 2 terial having crush-proof characteristics such as acetate, polystyrene, the phenolics and the like.

The container as shown is provided with a pair of spaced types of opposite walls I0 and II joined by a connecting peripheral wall I2 having terminals I3 and It to provide a mouth I5 for the container.

Walls I0 and II on the outer sides and adjacent the periphery and as shown in Figures 1-5 are provided each with continuous grooves I6 and IT respectively, said grooves being adapted to slidably engage the teeth of a flexible cover or closure strip designated generally by numeral I8.

Cover I8 as shown is in the form of a strip exceeding in length the width of container mouth I5 and is preferably made of flexible and elastic material such as polyethylene. Cover I8 as shown has a main top wall provided with spaced, transverse and parallel linear depressions I9 intermediate the edges of said top wall and further has depending side walls 20 and 2| of a height to cover the face edge portions [Ba and IIa of grooves I6 and H.

The side walls 20 and 2i are each provided with a series of opposite and spaced teeth depending therefrom, each of the teeth having a coextensive vertical portion 22 and an inwardly directed portion 23.

Along one side 20 of strip I8, the tooth portions 23 are adapted to penetrate and slide along groove I6 and along the other side 2|, the tooth portions penetrate and slide along groove I'I. It is to be observed that the distance between the inner sides of strip side walls 21'! and 2| is slightly less than the distance between edges Ilia and I11; and that the distance between the bases of grooves I6 and I1 is larger than the distance between the opposing end walls of the opposite tooth portions 23 so that the cover It has a snug slidable fit and serves to make an eifective closure for mouth I5.

The utilization of linear depressions I9 adds caterpillar-like flexibility to cover It in rounding curves of the container and also serves as a better gripping surface when the container is grasped between the thumb and middle finger and the closure manipulated by the index finger for opening and closing. The contents are ejected into the other hand or on the surface as illustrated in Figure 2.

Of course, it is understood that grooves I6 and I1 need not be continuous but they should be of suflicient length to accommodate cover I8 3 when slidably displaced in whole or in part from mouth I5 of the container.

The container may be of various sizes and shapes and a suitable material so as not to interact with the contents thereof whether the contents be pharmaceutical, cosmetic, food, confectionary or other articles of consumption or use. When such articles are exhausted, the container by opening mouth i5 may be refilled.

To avoid the possibility of accidental disengagement of teeth 23 from grooves l6 and l! while the container is in the pocket or purse of the consumer, the modified tooth structure and grooves shown in Figures 6 and '7 are capable of use.

Thus, the inwardly directed tooth portions 23 at intervals are modified. As shown in Figures 6 and 7, certain of the tooth portions 23 adjacent the inner edges are provided with an upwardly extending flange 24 while the grooves l6 and I! along the outer walls and adjacent the bases are provided with continuous grooved portions 25 and 26 respectively. In this manner, accidental disengagement between the teeth of the cover and the grooves is minimized.

Although cover I8 is slidably engagable with the outer sides of container walls Hi and H, the cover is capable of being slidably engagable with the inner sides of walls [0 and H and as shown in Figure 8.

Thus, the opposite container walls Ilia and i la on the inner sides are provided with continuous grooves 21 and 28 respectively and adjacent the peripheries while the flexible and resilient cover member 29 penetrates and slidably engages these grooves along the longitudinal edges as at 30 and 3| respectively. The operation of this type of closure is similar to the types shown in Figures 1-7.

I wish it distinctly understood that minor changes and variations in the material, size, shape integration and cooperation of the parts may all be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A container and flexible closure therefor comprising a body having a pair of opposite and spaced walls, a peripheral wall joining said walls and having an opening therein, said opposite and spaced walls each having an oppositely facing groove therein on the outer faces and adjacent the opening and extending therebeyond, a flexible and resilient strip having depending side walls each provided with inwardly directed teeth slidably engagable with the respective grooves whereby said strip serves as a slide closure for the mouth of the container and manipulable by the fingers by either end of the strip.

2. A container and flexible closure therefor comprising a body having a pair of opposite and spaced walls, a peripheral wall joining said walls and having an opening therein, said opposite and spaced walls on the outer faces each having an oppositely facing angular groove therein adjacent the opening and extending therebeyond, a flexible and resilient strip having depending side walls each provided with inwardly directed teeth and upwardly extending tooth projections slidably engagable with the respective grooves whereby said strip serves as a slide closure for the mouth of the container and manipulable by the fingers from either end of the strip.

3. A container and flexible closure therefor comprising a body having a pair of opposite and spaced walls, a peripheral wall joining said walls and having an opening therein, said opposite and spaced Walls each having on outer faces thereof an oppositely facing groove therein adjacent the opening and extending therebeyond, an integral flexible and resilient strip having depending side walls each provided with inwardly directed teeth slidably engagable with the respective grooves and under tension across the longitudinal axis whereby said strip serves as a slide closure for the mouth of the container and manipulable by the fingers from either end of the strip.

4. A container and flexible closure therefor comprising a body having a pair of opposite and spaced walls, a peripheral wall joining said walls and having an opening therein, said opposite and spaced walls on the outer faces each having an oppositely facing groove and a retention runway therein adjacent the opening and extending therebeyond, a flexible and resilient strip having depending side walls each provided with inwardly directed teeth having upwardly extending flanges, the said teeth being slidably engagable with the respective grooves and the upwardly extending flanges thereof also being slidably engagable with the grooved retention runway whereby said strip serves as a slide-closure for the mouth of the container and manipulable by the fingers from either end of the strip.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,107,985 Moskowitz Aug. 18, 1914 2,107,997 Horsley Feb. 8, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Coun 3, Date 692,991 France Aug. 11, 1930 

